Seminar Discussion: Doing Green Business in California: Lessons for Europe and Bulgaria

On 18 April 2011 the Center for the Study of Democracy hosted a seminar discussion on sharing the experience with renewable energy sources (RES) from the US and some developing countries around the globe. The key-note presenter at the discussion was Mr. Kumayl Khaleeli, VP Corporate Development and Strategy of Suntrough Energy - a California-based developer of solar thermal power plants in a range of developing countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. The discussion took place in light of Bulgaria’s forthcoming RES strategy, a relatively small experience with new sources of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, and a price tag on renewable energy that is currently unaffordable for most Bulgarian consumers. A main point in the discussion was the issue of incentivizing the development and the actual implementation of RES projects, which is a universal problem for all countries embarking on the green energy agenda.